The Columbia Daily Tribune reports ( http://bit.ly/sjZAv1) that a civic group Keep Columbia Free wants elected leaders and the city manager to support Burton.

That effort is a response to a group called Chief Burton Needs to Resign.

Opponents want Burton fired for his decision to fire police officer Rob Sanders in September after an incident that left an inmate in a police holding cell with a broken back. They also oppose the city’s decision to reject Sanders’ request to buy back his former police dog.

Burton fired Sanders even though an internal investigation cleared Sanders of wrongdoing.